"Number of login attempts exceeded"

User avatar
Pete
Posts: 7643
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 13.36
Location: Dundee

A few people have contacted me mentioning that they are getting this error on their first attempt and are therefore being asked to answer one of the questions.

Essentially there is an issue with phpBB being targeted by spammers at the moment for some reason, part of the problem is fake registrations using captcha solving farms in russia, the other part is brute force attacks on existing usernames.

What this appears to also be doing is not only causing the captcha to appear but causing the software to perform an emergency lock on your account which stops you from logging in even with the right details until I go in and reset it.

This is a problem affecting many phpBB based forums however given the relative simplicity of preventing the majority of attacks it should hopefully be a temporary issue (it is implied the next version will help).

Anyhow if it does occur to you and you can't get back in for some reason please PM me on the other forum or email [email protected] and I'll see about resetting your password.

Sorry about this, stupid spammers.
"He has to be larger than bacon"
User avatar
Pete
Posts: 7643
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 13.36
Location: Dundee

Quick note to say I have attempted to fix this via the database now that the brute force logins have calmed down so hopefully anyone who was locked out before can now get back in.

Again if you are still having trouble my contact details are above.
"He has to be larger than bacon"
User avatar
Lorns
Posts: 3149
Joined: Thu 24 Mar, 2005 22.48
Location: A room with a view. 15 Hookey street, the Edge.
Contact:

Thanks for sorting that problem out for me Pete. I've been offline for a while now and was starting to get metro withdrawal symptoms.
Mental anxiety, Mental breakdowns, Menstrual cramps, Menopause... Did you ever notice how all our problems begin with Men?
User avatar
Pete
Posts: 7643
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 13.36
Location: Dundee

Lorns wrote:Thanks for sorting that problem out for me Pete. I've been offline for a while now and was starting to get metro withdrawal symptoms.
No problem, it seemed to affect a good half dozen regulars and quite a few more lesser members. Having faffed in the database though it seems fixed so I can probably unsticky this topic before something embarrassing occurs like our design agency takes a screenshot for their new website with this stickied at the time.

Oh...
"He has to be larger than bacon"
Lee
Posts: 297
Joined: Mon 12 Jul, 2004 15.49

Don't look at me, I didn't take the pic. I have no control over anything anymore. My every breath is decided for me. I didn't even give the green light for the new ND site to go online! Apparently I'm doing a Eurovision theme for Metropol? I don't know.

Don't get married, kids.
Malpass93
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu 16 Oct, 2008 16.19
Location: Ealing

It stopped me posting but I assumed it was something I'd done.

Cheers Pete :)
Image
The New Malpass.
User avatar
Pete
Posts: 7643
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 13.36
Location: Dundee

You win some you lose some.
"He has to be larger than bacon"
Please Respond